Daily Republican., 1887-05-27
AUNT HILDA.

HILUA.|
BY ZEN. r ATCHERLEY.
"'T1s better to have loved and lost.
Than never to have loved ns ALL"
She 10 only little old lady, with .
sweet, patient face, and pair OF sad
gray 81 90. which are gazing with o far
of, wistful expression through the
neatly turtaincd window at the winter
landscape without Oonld Aunt Hifda's
many friends have seen her thus, great
would have been their surprise. Flf-
teen FEARS ago she came to this small.
inland town, and her quiet, kind heart
cd ways soon won for her the friep dship
OF both rich and poor. The utter lone
lipeas In which she lived made her sn
object Of much curiosity 1t first. but ~
time wore ON her kindly old face and
deeds Of charity became familiar. and
people ceased to speculate % 10 her
probable psst, but thought 0r spoke Of
her simply ~ Aunt Hilda.
But to-day there 10 NO one present TO
note the shade Of sadness upon the
usually tranquil face; no one TO SOC the
little Wrinkled hands folded 20 quietly
and hopelessly before her.
Years ago, in one Of the side streets
OF the busy metropolis, there lived .
retired sen captain and his pretty
daughter. These two passed very
happy life together. The old man loved
his bright Dung daughter dearly, not
only for her own sake but for the rake
OF that dead mother whom she 30 CLOSE
ly resembled.
Captain Davis saw few visitors, but
one there YVES who spent all his leisure
hourH within the cosy little homo. This
Was Jack Darrell, 6rst mate OF the good
ship Morning Glsfy."
Yes, Jack Darrell and Hilda Davis
were lovers. The handsome face and
frank wayu Of this young seaman had
won the maiden's heart, and Jack had
long aimee learned how necessary 10 his
happiness was the possession Of the old
captains beautiful daughter.
Tho old captsin watched with ever
increasing pleasure the soft glancss and
tender smiles which were unitipg two
loving hearts, and when, one morning,
they stood before him with olasped
hands and bent heads, Acknowledge
their love and pleading for his blessing,
with tears In his eyes he b1de them
God speed, for he had always known
that tho day would como when some
one would claim his little girl, and who
could be more worthy OF her than this
manly fellow beside him?
30 they were engaged. A long, bliss-
ful month followed, In which the lovers
were inseparAble. But one thing pre-
vented their happiness from being per.
feet, and that was the anticipation Of .
coming separation. II had bsep decided
that Jsck should make one more voy.
age, after which qsiet wedding should
take place in Capt. Davis pretty little
home, and then the young man should
abandon his life OF peril and danger.
30 one cold, disagreeAble day, when the
streets were covered with slect, the
captain and his daughter stood ct one
LOT she docks waving last farewell v
the departing ship which was bearing
away from the girl the man who wal
dsaIer 70 her than life.
How int0lerAbls were the days thai
followed In vain did she tell hSrssli
that . year woujd sooo 70 by; never
had the wseks dragged 90 horribly be-
fore. How dull and desolate the rooms
were, now that tho Ill form and merry
laugh Of the young man oould be seen
and heard no more within their bounds.
Yet, despite Hilds's impotence, time
moved very slowly. The weeks passed
into months. Spring oamo, With iii
flowers and sunshine, and then gave
place to the long, hot days Of summer,
Six months had paused since that win
tor day on which she had bldden her
lover adieu, and HfldA was beginning
to look forward with glad expectancy
to the time when those loving arnl
should hold her ouoe mora. But alAa
for human plaus and happinessi
At the close Of . bright, warm day
Hilds ut in the pleasant sitting. room
AWAITING her fAther's return. In ops
|oorper Of the room . small tea table
WAS spread. A. the young girl sat BY
the open window, her beautiful eyel
turned In their wistful gaze over the
ocean TO where the sky ana water
seemed 70 meet and blend, well-knowu
step waA heard In the hail. Before she
could rise from her seat tho door opened
and admitted the captain. Tho world
LOT greeting wore frunen ON her lips, for
n she advanced, instead of the answer
ing smile. she saW that his face was sl
pale - death, and shetland which mel
= hers was cold and trembiiro.
"Eatherp' she exolAimeA vWhat
hes happened? Oh, tell me q. klY -
Even - she spoke terrible presenti
ment Of evil came over her. With fal
teripg stsps the old man advanced and
took her in his arms.
"Ohild," he whispered In . HUSKY
kvoice, s'try and be brave. "Oh, MI
darling little girl. I have indeed bAl
NEWS for you'll The Morning GLORY
has gone down with all or hoard"
Az no uttsred these words the Sigh
form Quivered oonyulsively, and theE
sank heavily npon his breast Tender
~ no raised the dropping head and laid
her on tho sofa. When In few mo
ments consciousness returned the even
ling shadowa were enshrouding tn,
world In darkness. The sun had sunl
below the western h0risop, and Nth 4
had gone the snnshius from HAdA'
life.
The days that followed were darl
ones indeed 10 the inmates Of the cap
tain 8 cottage. Days spent In watching
BY the bedside Of the alex girl, who lei
|at the point Of death. There were mo
Imenta when tho watchers gave up al
Hope, and waited sadly for the tim
when the thread Of life would snap AMI
leave them only the cold, inanimAt
Iclsy. But the vitality Of youth con
lQuered ct last. Step by step the grin
lenemy WAS forced 10 retreat, and tn